MYRRIL FORDE WAS certain about one thing yesterday.
She just knew she was 100, and was thankful to God and all the others who helped to make it special.
The Bibby’s Lane, St Michael woman sat quietly in her wheelchair in a gold lace dress as all of the activity went on around her.
She suffers dementia, is a bit hard of hearing and is blind. But every so often, she would whisper a soft word of thanks or sing a few lines from a song as Governor General Sir Elliott Belgrave and Lady?Belgrave brought her greetings, shared a glass of non-alcoholic wine and gave her an envelope with a “berry” to buy a drink for Christmas.
Forde was attended by her only child Ordean and granddaughter Cordelia who live with her and look after her needs. They were joined by two other granddaughters, eight great-grands and seven great-great-grands.
According to Ordean, Forde eats “everything” and was treated to rice and peas and stew. The golden girl smiled sweetly when sweet potatoes and yams were mentioned – a clear giveaway that she is fond of ground provisions.
Several other friends and people Forde helped to raise were also present, including Leon Lewis.
He moved the vote of thanks to Sir Elliott and boasted that he had told Forde she would hit 100 when he was about eight or nine years old.
“I feel elated. I put aside everything to be here. I was mostly honoured to give the vote of thanks,” Lewis said.
If all goes well, Sir Elliott should be in the neighbourhood again on March 20 next year, when Lewis’ mother Etheline hits the milestone.
The other grand old lady was a special guest at her friend’s party.
Etheline and Forde have been close friends for close to 60 years and the 99-year-old showed Sir Elliott and the entire gathering exactly how smart a mouth she had.
